Hanger device for furniture with y-shaped legs

ABSTRACT

The invention is designed for use with a table or desk supported by a pair of legs. The bottom portion of each leg is configured with a stem and a foot extending perpendicular to the stem. The top portion of each leg is configured in a y-shape having a first branch, a second branch and a trunk. The first and second branches extend up from the trunk and support the flat surface of the table or desk. A hanger device is located on either the first branch or the second branch and extends towards the flat surface. Placement of the hanger device on a branch of the y-shaped portion causes a load suspended from the hanger device to be supported primarily by the trunk and a moment caused by the load to be offset by the moment caused by the foot of each leg.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not Applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention relates generally to furniture with y-shaped legs. More specifically, the present invention relates to a device for hanging objects, such as student bookbags, from the legs of such furniture.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] Users of tables and desks often have the need to hang objects, such as bookbags and coats, in a convenient, accessible location while seated at the table or desk. Therefore, furniture manufacturers have found it desirable to offer a hanger device of some sort attached to the table or desk. Typically, these devices are attached to the outside of the legs of the piece of furniture.

[0005] However, these existing hanger devices pose several problems. A heavy bookbag hung from existing devices can generate a moment about the foot of the piece of furniture sufficient to tip it, potentially causing bodily injury and property damage. Additionally, because of the location of the hanger device on the leg, the load can cause the leg to fail in shear or bending.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is in view of the above problems that the present invention was developed. The invention is a hanger device for use with a piece of furniture, such as a table or desk, having y-shaped legs. The hanger device includes a peg on which an object can be hung, and is attached to a branch of the y-shaped leg at one end. The hanger device is attached to the inside of a branch and extends inwards towards the trunk of the leg, and extends upward towards the table surface. Due to the geometry resulting from the strategic placement of the peg, the resultant forces of any load placed on the hanger device are directed into and borne primarily by the strong trunk of the leg. This is preferable over the forces being borne by a weak branch, and provides the additional advantage of minimizing any moment acting on the trunk. Because only a negligible moment is generated about the foot of the table when a load is placed on the peg, it is extremely unlikely that the piece of furniture will tip over. A plug can be placed in the free end of the hanger device to lend it a finished appearance.

[0007] Further advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the description below with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like numbers indicate like elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, illustrate the embodiments of the present invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:

[0009]FIG. 1 is an elevated perspective view of a table incorporating the present invention.

[0010]FIG. 2 is a side view of the branches of one leg of a student desk or piece of furniture incorporating the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Referring to the accompanying drawings in which like reference numbers indicate like elements, in FIGS. 1 and 2, a hanger device 10 is used on a student desk with y-shaped legs 20. It will be obvious to one skilled in the art that hanger device 10 can be used on any piece of furniture with y-shaped legs. A flat surface 8 is supported by the legs 20. Each leg 20 has a top portion 22 and a bottom portion 24. The bottom portion 22 has a foot 26 and a stem 28. The top portion has a trunk 30, a first branch 32 and a second branch 34. The trunk 30 and first branch 32 and second branch 34 form a y-shape. The stem 28 of bottom portion 24 is telescopically received in the trunk 30 of top portion 22. Bottom holes 42 on stem 28 align with top holes 40 on trunk 30 and allow the flat surface 8 to be positioned at a desired height. Any suitable device can be used to fix top portion 22 with respect to bottom portion 24 but in the preferred embodiment a screw (not shown) is used. A cross bar 36 provides stability to the student desk or piece of furniture. The cross bar 36 can be attached at any suitable location on the legs 20 but in the preferred embodiment the cross bar is attached to the first branch 32 of each leg. The cross bar 36 can be attached by any suitable means but in the preferred embodiment shown cross bar 36 is welded to each leg 20.

[0012] Hanger device 10 is attached to either the first branch 32 or the second branch 34. In the preferred embodiment hanger device 10 is a peg. Hanger device can be any other suitable configuration including a hook. Hanger device 10 is attached to the inside of either first branch 32 or second branch 34 and extends inwards therefrom towards the flat surface 8. Thus, any load placed upon hanger device 10, such as a student's bookbag, is borne primarily by trunk 30 in compression, rather than by first branch 32 or second branch 34 in shear or bending. Additionally, the y-shaped configuration minimizes the moment acting on trunk 30 as compared to a t-shaped configuration, all but eliminating the likelihood that trunk 30 will fail in bending. The result is that the student desk or other piece of furniture is less likely to become damaged or destroyed than existing desks or furniture, because a much larger load is required to crush or buckle trunk 30 than the load required to shear or bend first branch 32 or second branch 34.

[0013] The placement of hanger device 10 on the inside of first branch 32 or second branch 34 generates almost no moment about foot 26 of student desk or furniture. This makes student desk or furniture far less likely to tip over when loaded than other orientations of hanger device 10 with respect to leg 20. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the angle formed between hanger device 10 and first branch 32 and second branch 34 is a right angle.

[0014] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, hanger device 10 is a cylindrical peg. However, it will be obvious to one skilled in the art that hanger device 10 could take any number of shapes without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0015] As various modifications could be made in the constructions and methods herein described and illustrated without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and their equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An improved piece of furniture comprising: a flat surface supported by a pair of legs; said legs having a top portion and a bottom portion; said bottom portion having a foot and a stem; said top portion having a trunk, a first branch and a second branch; said trunk, said first branch and said second branch configured in a y-shape; said trunk attached to said stem; said first branch and said second branch attached to said flat surface; and a hanger device located on either said first branch or said second branch and extending towards said flat surface.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said hanger device is a peg.
 3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said hanger device is a hook.
 4. The invention of claim 1 further comprising a cross bar attached to said pair of legs.
 5. The invention of claim 1 wherein said trunk of said top portion is telescopically received in said stem of said bottom portion.
 6. The invention of claim 5 wherein said flat surface can be positioned at a desired height.
 7. The invention of claim 1 wherein said foot extends perpendicular from said stem and parallel to said flat surface. 